Chile Forum

Hi everyone,

I feel I have to start by apologizing for lurking for so long without posting. This is a great forum with lots of useful information about Chile that has helped me out. Thank you all for what you have contributed.

My question today is about mechanics. I bought a 1995 VW bug last year and it is not in perfect condition. I was used to working on my own car in the states but that doesn't work here. Not only did I sell off all of my tools before I moved south, there is not an auto parts store to be found. My previous experiences with mechanics here have not been good. The one my brother uses refused to work on a vw. The dealership could not get parts for it. The one that helped it limp by safety inspections this year overcharged me. The one that replaced the fuel line and fuel filter so it stopped leaving a trail of gas behind it took two weeks to fix it and then had to take it back to complete the job for a total of 1 month without the car operating. At least the last one was not expensive in terms of money. I am looking for anew one as I don't want to repeat the previous experiences.

The problem this time is the electrical system. When I got back from the south last week my battery had died and I had to push start it. Why would they put the battery in a place that no pair of cables seem to reach it? So I have been push starting it every morning and in the afternoon when I leave work. The system doesnt seem to hold a charge and the battery is a decent brand and less than a year old so I assume that it is the alternator ( or generator?) or there is a short somewhere in the system. The running and starting thing is good for my health but my street is only so long and if it doesn't start by the time I get to the end of it I don't want the additional exercise of pushing the thing up the hill to try again.

I live in providencia and work in las condes; I hope someone knows of something relatively close to either of them. but I am willing to look outside of those comunas as there are not a lot of mechanics in them. Another note is that my Spanish is not exactly wonderful. I can communicate but sometimes it just doesn't seem to work.

Once again thank you all for your previous info that made my life easier, I hope one of you can help me with this issue.

hello nate....as a matter of fact i do know a good mechanic in santiago, but he isn't close to providencia. he's quite a bit south, near puente alto. i was in chile in january visiting a sweet chilena i know and we borrowed a car from one of her friends. the car broke down less than 20 minutes after we started driving it. welcome to chile, eh? we took it to a mechanic that her father recommended. he was great. i don't have the contact info, but i can get it if you are interested..... and i'll be in santiago on july 11 to see vero again....maybe i'll ski a bit, too.

Thanks for the offer, I just cannot justify going to punte alto after work to get the car there and spend two hours getting home. I love transantiago but that is pushing it. I decided to bit the bullet and take it to the expensive place after work tomorrow. It is in Bellavista so it is close. They were fast last time as well. I still wish that there was a auto parts store around but my expectations of what can be found and the reality are frequently off. I know I am setting myself up for trouble anytime I mutter something about Chile involving the word "should".

I hope you enjoy your visit in July. Not the best time to stay in the city so your skiing adventure is a good idea. let me know when you get into town and I will show you my favorite gringo haunt if you are still looking.

Hi Nate

Your problem seems easy, first than all go to any "Serviteca" from Good Year, they sell batteries and inspect for free if either the problem is from batery or electric system, just ask "puede revisar la batería y la carga por favor?"
If is batery problem the fix is easy, if is electric system you dont go to mechanic but an car electric maestro, they are separate specialities.

I can recommend you Francisco Ballerines garage in Mujica 0210, he is VW speciallist, ask for Francisco (the owner) and say that you are friend of mine, demand your discount!

Carfun also in Santiago http://www.carfun.cl/ the owners are good friends of mine and honest people, if they cannot fix they directed you to a good garage

Suerte!

Thank you for the info, I am just confused about what to do here with the car when it has problems. I will see if one of the good year places can help. And if that fails, a VW specialist sounds like a nice option. I saw a picture once on the forums of your old vw bug and appreciate the advice. Did you have many problems with it when you owned it? I seem to have nothing but problems with mine, I am considering selling it after I get it fixed enough to do so. Transantiago is getting better but i still don't like it that much; fighting to get on the bus in the morning and hoping one of the buses will stop in the afternoon. Still it might be worth it while I consider saving up money to buy a more reliable car.

Electric problems are tipycal in bettles, but first you have to discard a problem with the battery, any Serviteca can check your battery for free, density, etc.
The electric system has 2 ipical problems: when they have generator instead alternator and the voltage regulator unit, I switch in my VW the old generator by an alternator and problems dissapeared. Anyway is probable that you start with problems at revision tecnica (emision controls and such) that is why the bettles are not so used in Santiago, anyway, if the battery is OK a diagnostic of electric system with Francisco BAllerines may be advisable

I miss my old bettle so much

Do you have contact information for Fransisco Ballerinas? I tried to look him up in amarillas but no luck. I need to have the car towed to the garage now and would prefer to call first. The good news is that the battery is good, the bad news is that it is something else.

Francisco´s phone is 3269961 the garage adress is Mujica St. 9210 (this street is near Irarrazabal and Vicuña Mackena St go http://maps.google.com and then type mujica, santiago to see the location